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Atrium Health Celebrates 20 Years of Impact
Atrium Health Celebrates 20 Years of Impact Through the FOR ALL Conference
By Peggy Harris, Amy Marcellini, Dana Ellison and Uniqua Quillins
Atrium Health recently hosted the 20th anniversary of its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) learning event, the annual FOR ALL Conference. The conference continues to be the signature DEI educational opportunity and cultural mainstay of Atrium Health. For the past 20 years, it has been the largest and most prominent learning forum of its kind within the Southeast region with more than 3,000 teammates registering for the June conference.
Since 2002, this event has been a cultural foundation at Atrium Health; and an investment in teammates that has challenged assumptions and perceptions. The event has empowered teammates to champion diversity, equity, inclusion and belongingness.
Over the life of the conference, Atrium has hosted notable speakers and experts such as the internationally revered, Dr. Maya Angelou, astronaut Dr. Mae Jemison, U.S. Surgeon Generals Richard Carmona and Dr. Jocelyn Elders, retired General Peter Pace, the 16th chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Mike Krzyzewski (Coach K) and a host of other renowned leaders and experts in topics of diversity, equity and inclusion.
This year’s FOR ALL Conference theme was “Celebrating the Journey: Taking the Road Less Traveled.” One of the keynote speakers this year was the legendary Earvin ‘Magic’ Johnson. He spoke on several topics including his “path from the basketball courts to the boardroom,” growing as a leader and being a social justice advocate. The following is an excerpt from the powerful conversation between Johnson and Gene Woods, Atrium Health CEO and President:
As Johnson’s own career grew, he met several people who gave him an opportunity.
“Different men and women became my mentors,” he said. Johnson explained how Jerry Buss — or Dr. Buss as he was known — the late owner of the Los Angeles Lakers, took him under his wing, even opening the books and showing him how the business side of the Lakers worked. “I was blown away.”
But it gave Johnson an idea. He called Dr. Buss and asked for the phone numbers of Lakers season ticket holders who also owned businesses. He wanted to take them to lunch.
“I called over 50 presidents and CEOs,” Johnson said.
They all said yes, of course, to the Lakers superstar. But Johnson learned valuable lessons about business. Today, Johnson still counts six of those CEOs as his mentors. Some, he’s even in business with. It’s because of those mentors and the opportunities they helped create that Johnson became the successful businessman he is today.
While progress is being made in terms of social justice, some may be discouraged it’s not happening as fast — or as consistently — as they might hope.
“Change takes time,” Johnson said. “We need everybody to stay motivated. Stay focused on the fact that we have to still make more changes. These problems are not going to go away just because we protested … just because we raised our voices that this shouldn’t be happening. If we all get discouraged, then we’re not going to continue to fight.”
“We’re not going to keep the conversation going. What’s important is that we keep the conversation going.”
Our FOR ALL Conference captures a meaningful connection to our mission. It reflects Atrium Health’s long-standing commitment to our Diversity Agenda, and our continued investment in our teammates.
In this way, it has strengthened our posture in the community, given us the courage to work against structural exclusion and allowed us to champion health, hope and healing — FOR ALL. P
Earvin "Magic" Johnson and Atrium Health CEO Gene Woods discuss creating opportunities and growing as a leader during the 20th annual FOR ALL Conference.
Atrium Health teammate asks question to panel during the 2017 FOR ALL Conference.
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Tony Award-winning Best Musical DEAR EVAN HANSEN Returns to Charlotte
DEAR EVAN HANSEN, winner of six 2017 Tony Awards® including Best Musical and the 2018 Grammy® Award for Best Musical Theater Album, returns to the Queen City in the Belk Theater for one week October 25-30.
DEAR EVAN HANSEN is the deeply personal and profoundly contemporary musical about life in the age of social media and the way we live it. The musical follows Evan Hansen, a high school senior with social anxiety, who gets the one thing he’s always wanted: a chance to fit in. But he pays a steep price for it.
DEAR EVAN HANSEN’s star-studded creative team features a score by Grammy®, Tony® and Academy Award® winners Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (La La Land, The Greatest Showman), direction by four-time Tony Award nominee Michael Greif (Rent, Next to Normal) and is adapted from a book by Tony Award winner Steven Levenson.
The musical has struck a remarkable chord with audiences and critics everywhere, including The Washington Post which says DEAR EVAN HANSEN is “Theatrical magic. One of the most remarkable shows in musical theatre history.” The New York Times calls it “a breathtaking knockout of a musical.” And NBC Nightly News declares the musical “an anthem resonating on Broadway and beyond.”
Zachary Noah Piser portrays the role of Evan Hansen in the touring production after portraying the lead character on Broadway and making Broadway history. The actor became the first Asian American actor to play the role full-time.
“Being the first Asian American actor to tell Evan’s story means everything to me, and I hope this milestone allows any and all AAPI folks to feel seen, heard, and valued,” Piser said in a statement.
Piser joins a long list of incredible actors who have taken on the role of Evan, including Tony winner Ben Platt, who originated the role, Jordan Fisher (Teen Beach Movie, RENT: Live) and Noah Galvin (The Real O’Neals).
Tickets are on sale now by visiting BlumenthalArts.org or calling 704-372-1000. This is one show you don’t want to miss.
